SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt

This weekly column features news stories and event announcements from around the American Redoubt region. (Idaho, Montana, eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and Wyoming.) Much of the region is also more commonly known as The Inland Northwest. We also mention companies of interest to preppers and survivalists that are located in the American Redoubt region. Today, we focus on a new Wyoming app that lets residents claim roadkill.   (See the Wyoming section.)

Idaho

‘Surprised and disappointed’ Sandpoint mayor running for governor will not appear on primary ballot.

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Video from state representative candidate Chad Catron: Kicked out of my election| this is what they said…

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I just stumbled into this video clip: Meteor Fireball over Eagle, Idaho – 7/3/21

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Military aircraft training exercises being conducted at Coeur d’Alene Airport.

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Rathdrum man sentenced to 30 years in prison for lewd conduct with a minor.

Continue reading“SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt”

Preparedness Notes for Monday — March 21, 2022

March 21st, 1778: Just three days after Hessian mercenary forces assaulted the local New Jersey militia at Quinton’s Bridge, the same contingent surprised the colonial militia at Hancock’s Bridge five miles from Salem. In what became known as the Massacre at Hancock’s Bridge, at least 20 members of the militia lost their lives, some after attempting to surrender. The Loyalists reputedly exclaimed “Spare no one! Give no quarter!” as they stormed the occupied house. Judge Hancock and his brother (both Loyalists) were bayoneted in the melee by the attackers even though they were both staunch supporters of the crown and were themselves non-violent Quakers.

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Today another product review, penned by our Field Gear Editor Emeritus, Pat Cascio.

Springfield Armory XDs Mod. 2 .45 ACP OSP, by Pat Cascio

Just over a year ago, I did a review on the Springfield Armory XDs Mod. 2 chambered in 9mm Parabellum with the red dot sight on it. I carried that for quite a while, until the red dot version of the Springfield Hellcat came along, and that became my current everyday carry piece. To be sure, there is nothing “wrong” with the XDs Mod. 2 9mm OSP. It is just that the Hellcat is a smaller handgun, and it carries a lot more rounds – hard to argue this point. More ammo on-tap is always better. I’ve never read of anyone who claimed they had too much ammo when a gunfight broke out.

Today we’re looking at the XDs Mod. 2 .45 ACP OSP from Springfield – and I’ve anxiously awaited this one, since I love the .45 ACP round! As you can see in the photo to the left, I have the 9mm version above the .45 ACP version, and the difference is hard to see – even when you handle both guns, its hard to tell them apart.
Continue reading“Springfield Armory XDs Mod. 2 .45 ACP OSP, by Pat Cascio”

Recipe of the Week: African Peanut Stew

The following recipe African Peanut Stew comes from frequent SurvivalBlog recipe contributor “Mrs. Alaska.”

Note: This recipe is modified from the one at Sylvia’s Feasting at Home web site. (A recommended site!)
The title may sound unusual to some, but it is delicious, nutritious, and filling.  It utilizes shelf-stable and long storage items and is well suited to substitutions and freezing/reheating.  So, what’s not to like?
Ingredients And Directions
In 1- 2 TBS of coconut, peanut, or other oil,
SAUTEE until soft: 1 chopped onion, 3-5 garlic chopped cloves, 1 TBS ginger, spicy fresh or dry peppers to taste, 1 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp pepper, 2 tsp coriander, 1 tsp cumin.
ADD: 2 cups chopped yams, sweet potatoes, or butternut squash, 1 can or 1/5 cups of garbanzo beans (chickpeas) or other beans (cooked or canned), 1 small can of tomato paste, 4 cups of broth (vegetable or chicken), 1/2 – 1 cup peanut butter, 1 tsp salt, and red pepper or cayenne, to taste.
SIMMER for 20 – 30 minutes until yams (or other ingredients) are soft.
TASTE TEST it.
As needed, ADD one TBS apple cider vinegar, and more water, salt, and cayenne.
Optional: ADD fresh or canned greens or meat.
Optional: GARNISH with peanuts and cilantro or chives.
SERVING

Can be served in bowls, or over rice or pasta.

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Do you have a favorite recipe that would be of interest to SurvivalBlog readers? In this weekly recipe column, we place emphasis on recipes that use long term storage foods, recipes for wild game, dutch oven and slow cooker recipes, and any that use home garden produce. If you have any favorite recipes, then please send them via e-mail. Thanks!

Economics & Investing For Preppers

Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. We also cover hedges, derivatives, and obscura. Most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today, we look at Goldback currency. (See the Precious Metals section.)

Precious Metals:

Global Precious Metals Market Value Projected To Reach USD 365.52 Billion Registering A CAGR Of 9.1 % by Forecast 2027 Says Maximize Market Research.

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A reader kindly sent me a sample Goldback. This is a new private currency that is literally infused with fractional amounts of gold. The basic premise is sound, but for the Goldback to work, it needs several things:

  • Great promotion.
  • A budget to provide staying power, during a long ramp-up.
  • Consistency of the gold content of the currency, for each denomination.
  • A government that doesn’t see the Goldback as competition.
  • Eventual widespread acceptance and use.
  • Anti-counterfeiting protection features that the Chinese fakers cannot beat.
Any of the aforementioned could conceivably derail this project. Thusfar, aside from some delamination problems, the company seems to be doing a great job. My estimate on their chances of success?  Probably only around 25%. Time will tell. But I wish them the best. – JWR

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Video from a young silver stacker: I have changed my mind about silver.

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Mike Maloney reviews some charts: Will $10,000 Gold Matter? Why YOU NEED Wealth Insurance NOW.

Economy & Finance:

Chinese Stock Crash: U.S. Losses Top $1.1 Trillion As Beijing’s Russia Ties Spark Investor Concerns.

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Our own Mike Williamson flagged this article on “shrinkflation”: Huge Chip Company Reacts to Biden’s Inflation, Takes Major Measure to Keep Bags the Same Price.

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Western companies are exiting Russia en masse after the invasion of Ukraine, and China is eyeing a way in.

Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”

Preparedness Notes for Sunday — March 20, 2022

This is the birthday of novelist and screenwriter Richard Matheson (1926–2013). He wrote many sci-fi television scripts. His novella I Am Legend later was adapted into three different movies over the course of five decades. And his story Bid Time Return became the movie Somewhere In Time.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 99 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2000.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses, excluding those restricted for military or government teams. Three-day onPoint courses normally cost $795,
  4. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  5. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  6. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  7. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.

Second Prize:

  1. A Front Sight Lifetime Diamond Membership, providing lifetime free training at any Front Sight Nevada course, with no limit on repeating classes. This prize is courtesy of a SurvivalBlog reader who prefers to be anonymous.
  2. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  3. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  5. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of firearms purchasing privacy!

Third Prize:

  1. Three sets each of made-in-USA regular and wide-mouth reusable canning lids. (This is a total of 300 lids and 600 gaskets.) This prize is courtesy of Harvest Guard (a $270 value)
  2. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  3. A transferable $100 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

—

More than $725,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. Round 99 ends on March 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

The Stagflation Trap Will Lead To Universal Basic Income And Food Rationing, by Brandon Smith

This past week during a conference discussing Biden’s “Build Back Better” scheme House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was confronted with questions on skyrocketing inflation. After referring to higher gas prices as the “Putin Tax”, she went on to offer perhaps the dumbest (or most insidious) denial on the causes of inflation that I have ever heard. She stated:

“When we’re having this discussion, it’s important to dispel some of those who say, well it’s the government spending. No, it isn’t. The government spending is doing the exact reverse, reducing the national debt. It is not inflationary.”

Anyone with a basic understanding of economics and how central banks operate must have felt their brains explode when they heard this, I know I did. But before I get into the numerous reasons why this claim is completely false in every way, I want to give a warning – It’s very easy in this situation to assume that Pelosi and even Biden are making these arguments because they are too stupid to grasp the fundamentals of debt creation, money velocity and fiat. That said, never mistake evil for mere ignorance.

All higher level representatives of the White House are briefed by economic experts (spin doctors) well before they answer any questions on inflation, and the things they say have been carefully scripted. It’s possible Pelosi mixed her lies up a little bit, but the narrative the establishment is trying to promote is well planned. Asserting that money creation is a counterbalance to inflation instead of the cause is not brilliant, but it’s not designed to convince many people, only create confusion.

Let’s not forget that only last year these same people were telling the public that inflation was purely “transitory” and that there was nothing to worry about. Now they are trying to cover their tracks and the culpability of the Federal Reserve. I believe the goal here is to simply stall for time until the stagflationary collapse unfolds. They have the perfect scapegoat as they launch an economic war with Russia (and likely China in the near term), and the effects of this war will hurt the US and Europe far more than many realize.Continue reading“The Stagflation Trap Will Lead To Universal Basic Income And Food Rationing, by Brandon Smith”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” – Romans 8: 1-14 (KJV)

Preparedness Notes for Saturday — March 19, 2022

On March 19, 1982, 50 Argentines landed on South Georgia in the Falkland Islands to plant the Argentine flag. They renamed the islands The Malvinas. This precipitated the Argentine army invasion on April 2nd. Despite some significant naval losses and dreadful weather, British Marines re-took the island on April 25th in a well-coordinated ground campaign. Coincidentally, in this brief war, the British Army and the Argentine Army were both equipped with FN-FAL variant rifles. (The British carried L1A1 “SLR” inch-pattern FAL rifles.)

—

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 99 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2000.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses, excluding those restricted for military or government teams. Three-day onPoint courses normally cost $795,
  4. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  5. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  6. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  7. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.

Second Prize:

  1. A Front Sight Lifetime Diamond Membership, providing lifetime free training at any Front Sight Nevada course, with no limit on repeating classes. This prize is courtesy of a SurvivalBlog reader who prefers to be anonymous.
  2. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  3. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  5. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of firearms purchasing privacy!

Third Prize:

  1. Three sets each of made-in-USA regular and wide-mouth reusable canning lids. (This is a total of 300 lids and 600 gaskets.) This prize is courtesy of Harvest Guard (a $270 value)
  2. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  3. A transferable $100 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

—

More than $725,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. Round 99 ends on March 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

 

 

Repeater Down? Use Simplex Amateur Radio, by A.S.

Grid electricity down, WiFi down, Internet down! What to do? What kind of storm is coming? Are the stores open? Is my mother safe?

Normally, you would tune into your local ham club’s repeater to communicate with fellow hams. A repeater is a dedicated radio (or set of radios) and antenna located in the highest spot available, such as a mountaintop or a building and can reach around 25-to-75 miles — depending on terrain. Repeaters receive signals from one frequency and transmit to another frequency using tones and offsets. They usually have a backup power system that can last a few days or more. Ham clubs usually form around the repeater. When the repeater goes down due to weather, electricity outage, or whatever, then you must rely on direct transmissions (with no repeater) otherwise known as Simplex. But unfortunately, that doesn’t reach as far as a repeater.

Having your radio and license enables you to call other local hams on your 2 meter VHF radio. Who can hear who? The following Simplex Net setup procedure used by our club will enable you to know who and where you can send a message. If your radio doesn’t reach everyone in your club, then this system makes relaying a message easy.Continue reading“Repeater Down? Use Simplex Amateur Radio, by A.S.”

Editors’ Prepping Progress

To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make long-term and short-term plans. In this column, the SurvivalBlog editors review their week’s prep activities and planned prep activities for the coming week. These range from healthcare and gear purchases to gardening, ranch improvements, bug out bag fine-tuning, and food storage. This is something akin to our Retreat Owner Profiles, but written incrementally and in detail, throughout the year.  We always welcome you to share your own successes and wisdom in your e-mailed letters. We post many of those –or excerpts thereof — in this column, in the Odds ‘n Sods Column, and in the Snippets column. Let’s keep busy and be ready!

Jim Reports:

We still have patchy snow on the ground and we found that we were running low on stored hay. So I made a trip to a nearby town — just over an hour away — and bought four tons of Timothy/Grass hay. I was shocked to see it priced at $220 per ton. Oh well, at least those four tons should hold us over, until the grass comes up in our pastures. I should also mention that stacking all that hay by myself wiped out my back for a couple of days. Four tons didn’t seem like a lot for me to move in one day, back when I was in my 30s. But now, I think that I’m starting to feel my age.

Now, over to Lily:

Continue reading“Editors’ Prepping Progress”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have made a king over you.

And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day.

Behold, here I am: witness against me before the Lord, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.

And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man’s hand.

And he said unto them, The Lord is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand. And they answered, He is witness.

And Samuel said unto the people, It is the Lord that advanced Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.

Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the Lord of all the righteous acts of the Lord, which he did to you and to your fathers.

When Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried unto the Lord, then the Lord sent Moses and Aaron, which brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place.

And when they forgat the Lord their God, he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them.

And they cried unto the Lord, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the Lord, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee.

And the Lord sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and ye dwelled safe.

And when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, Nay; but a king shall reign over us: when the Lord your God was your king.

Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired! and, behold, the Lord hath set a king over you.

If ye will fear the Lord, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the Lord your God:

But if ye will not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then shall the hand of the Lord be against you, as it was against your fathers.

Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the Lord will do before your eyes.

Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the Lord, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the Lord, in asking you a king.

So Samuel called unto the Lord; and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.

And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the Lord thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king.

And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart;

And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.

For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake: because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people.

Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:

Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.

But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.” – 1 Samuel 12 (KJV)